Ephesians; 1:4 – Election of church age believer, part 20.

Friday December 7, 2018

 

3g. The elect are royal priests in the kingdom of God.

 

1Pe 2:1 Therefore, putting aside all malice [kakia = wickedness] and all guile [dolon = deceit] and hypocrisy and envy and all slander [evil speaking],

 

1Pe 2:2 like newborn babes, long for the pure [untarnished] milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

 

1Pe 2:3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

 

1Pe 2:4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice [chosen or elect] and precious in the sight of God,

 

1Pe 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

 

Referencing the three items in the holy place of the Tabernacle, we noted what the royal priest may draw near to God for.

 

The royal priest may draw near to God directly and personally in order to pray, intercede for others, find sustenance in comfort, find enlightenment for questions, offer thanksgiving, worship, and seek in what manner he may serve the Lord.

 

Before any priest could enter the holy place he had to be ceremonially clean. The NT reveals to us that we are clean, but much like sanctification, there is a position and an experience.

 

Cleanliness is like sanctification. Every believer is sanctified (holy) and clean by the blood of Christ, but he may not act like it all the time.

 

2Co 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

Paul related the promises in the preceding writing.

 

2Co 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

 

2Co 6:15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial [antichrist], or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

 

2Co 6:16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,

 

"I will dwell in them and walk among them; [Lev 26:11-12; Eze 27:37]  

And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. [Jer 31:33 (New Covenant)]

 

2Co 6:17 "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord.

"And do not touch what is unclean; [Isa 52:11]

And I will welcome you.

 

2Co 6:18 "And I will be a father to you,

And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," [Jer 31:1-9]

Says the Lord Almighty.

 

2Co 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

As elected, king priests, we are not to bind ourselves with the unbeliever and their way. We are to be holy as God is holy. Making choices like the Corinthians and compromising the way of holiness for whatever reason means sin and more sin to follow.

 

If our thinking or conduct becomes unclean, our position in Christ does not. Yet, we will suffer the consequences of sin.

 

If we do so, do we become unclean? We can confidently say that our thinking and our way might become unclean but our identity or position does not. Being clean is a state or position, as is being forgiven. The NT makes it clear that every believer is righteous, sanctified, justified, cleansed, and forgiven.

 

The NT also makes it clear that even though we are all those things, living in holiness and cleanliness of thinking and action, separating from the midst of the world’s way, is a choice.

 

Our conduct is a choice that we never had before. Do not be deceived about sin.

 

It would be a terrible thing to lie to ourselves and God about sinfulness. To be self-deceived is to be the most deceived. And that brings us to the infamous 1Jo 1:9, which we will deal with in more depth when we get to Eph 1:7.

 

The false teachers that John was warning his congregations about were claiming to have no sin and were in fact sinless on a certain spiritual level. John wrote, “if we say such things, we lie and make God a liar.” (1Jo 1:8, 10)

 

1Jo 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 

1Jo 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

 

John was hiding nothing, unlike the false teachers. We are sinners cleansed by the blood of Christ, 1Jo 1:7.

 

1Jo 1:7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

The “if” statement here is not cause and effect. If it were then salvation is by works. We are not cleansed if we walk in the light, but by the blood of Jesus. Walking in the light does not cause the blood of Jesus to cleanse us. It’s actually the other way around.

 

An if statement can be cause and effect: A causes B

 

Mat 6:14

“For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

 

In this statement, Jesus is saying that if you forgive others then it will cause your heavenly Father to forgive you.

 

An if statement can be an equivalence: A = B.

 

Gal 5:18

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

 

It’s like saying that if a cup is 8 oz then four cups is 32 oz. Being led by the Spirit is the same as not being under the Law.

 

An if statement can be evidence-inference: A is evidence of B.

 

Heb 12:8

But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

 

If the test strip shows two pink lines then congratulations, you’re pregnant. The test strip didn’t cause you to be pregnant, rather, it’s the other way around, and if you switch around an evidence-inference clause, you will have a cause and effect clause. 

 

Being without discipline is not the cause of being an illegitimate child, in fact, it’s the other way around.

 

So, looking at the “if” clauses in 1Jo 1, we look to see which type John is employing. Look again at vs. 7.

 

1Jo 1:7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

It’s certainly not cause and effect to the blood of Jesus. And it’s not equivalence either since our walk is not the same as the blood of Christ. So, it is the third, inference.

 

This “if” statement is an inference. We walk in the light because we are cleansed by His blood.

 

Every sin is cleansed. If it were not, then I would have no hope of walking in the light. This gets right to the heart of our priesthood. We certain reap the consequences of our sins, but those sins are all cleansed by the blood of Christ. With this freedom from sin and the condemnation that can come with sin, the royal priest can walk in the light as a child of light and confidently know that he has within him the power to do good and righteousness.

 

And so, we openly confess our sins to God and even mankind (when appropriate), for John does not specify in verse 9, because we are forgiven and cleansed.

 

There are appropriate times to confess a sin to another person, not for forgiveness, for we are commanded to forgive one another no matter what, but for healing a damage or even broken relationship.

 

In contrast to the false teachers who were claiming sinlessness and therefore, no need of a Savior in Jesus Christ, we never put on any show of sinlessness. We don’t tell all our sins to everyone, that’s insane. We know we are sinners cleansed, at peace with God, and saved by grace. There is an aura around a person who understands that.

 

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

This “if” statement also cannot be cause and effect or equivalence. God’s faithfulness, righteousness, forgiveness, and cleansing do not depend upon our confessions. Our confession is not equal with the righteousness of God.

 

Again, we have an inference. We confess or acknowledge our sins to the Father because we are forgiven. We approach the throne of grace, not condemnation, and we find mercy and grace to “help in time of need.”

 

1Jo 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

 

1Jo 2:2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

 

1Jo 2:12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.


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